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All change for the Keybury League

Bradford has its own youth league for the first time in almost two decades.

The Keybury Youth League, which also covers Keighley and Leeds, has been renamed as the Bradford & District Keybury Youth League in the hope of attracting clubs from the city back into the set-up.

The renaming has been sanctioned by the West Riding County Football Association and, in a bid to make the sport more accessible, under-seven teams can enter for free next season.

The league’s respect officer Pete Softley said: “It is long overdue that a city the size of Bradford boasts a youth league and, as a coach of a Bradford club, we are happy to play our bit in promoting youth football in our city, plus reducing travel costs parents are burdened with."

The league has recently attained the FA’s flagship award of Charter Standard status and hopes to introduce cup competitions next season.

Following the resignation of long-serving founder member Eddie Presland, the committee have regrouped and their current chairman is Kath Rickaby, who has served both the Keybury and Craven, Aire & Wharfe youth leagues with distinction.

League secretary Peter Walshe, formerly of Queensbury Celtic, has re-energised the league, with administrative support from Ray Rickaby as match report officer and the ever present Jenni Presland, who continues as registration secretary.

Club representatives are Julie Lloyd (Silsden) and Mick Turner (Baildon), while the league’s respect officers, Softley and Waseem Younus, are both police officers.

Teams have until Monday, June 30 to enter the Bradford & District Keybury Youth League for next season, and can apply by contacting Walshe at peter.walshe@me.com.

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